The Other (1972) [PG]

Back when The Exorcist was on the best-seller list, there was another book on the list that also had a sense of the supernatural to it: The Other by Thomas Tryon. A little overshadowed by The Exorcist, The Other did quite well and it, too, was turned into a movie.

This is an eerie psychological thriller about two twin boys, Niles and Holland. Niles is the good one and Holland the bad one who is always up to trouble. Their father has died recently, their mother is a recluse in mourning, and their grandmother (played by Uta Hagen) who lives with them is the one who gives them the most attention. Niles seems to be her particular favorite and she has taught him to project himself outside of himself, such as becoming the bird he sees. She calls this "the great game."

Bad things start to happen. There are deaths, accidents, and disappearances. The boys seem to be involved, but how?

The author, Tryon, also wrote the screenplay, changing the ending. Whereas the book is a good read, the different ending in the movie makes it all more ironic.

I don't recommend this if you have any 11-year-old boys at home. Everyone else should enjoy the little shivers they get from this movie. This is a thriller, not a gory chop 'em up, but more like The Sixth Sense. And check out the book!

DIRECTOR: Robert Mulligan.  CAST: Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, Chris Udvarnoky, Martin Udvarnoky, Norma Connolly, Victor French, Portia Nelson, John Ritter.

AWARDS:  1 win.

Windwalker (1980) [PG]

Not your typical western nor a cowboys and Indians movie. Instead, this is a lovely and often funny Native American story, great for family viewing. The PG rating is due to violence, so it is probably not good for the very young.

Windwalker, an old Cheyenne man, decides it is a good day to die as his tribe prepares to leave for winter camp. His family stays behind to prepare him for death, while Windwalker starts to tell them the story of his past. He recounts falling in love and earning his bride.

The family places him on the high scaffold which is the Cheyenne custom for burial. Believing he has died, they continue on to winter camp.

After a while, Windwalker is surprised to wake up and find himself still alive. He begins his trek to join his family, making narrow escapes from the dangers of the wilderness. He continues to remember his past, and the story of his wife and sons.

During this time, his family has been ambushed and his son injured by a band of Crow, enemies of the Cheyenne. They find some shelter and try to figure out what to do next.

There is a very happy ending to the story. Windwalker's past is resolved with his family's help. There are surprises, both funny and heartwarming.

There are some really special things about this movie. First, there are no white men. This is not a story of the destruction of the Native Americans, but rather a story where all the characters are Cheyenne or Crow. The only English we hear is the narration and Windwalker's thoughts. All other speaking is in tribal languages (with titles).

The one glaring problem is that in a movie that really attempts to be a faithful depiction of Native customs and pay honor to their culture, Windwalker is portrayed by Trevor Howard, who is British! (They had to dub his narration due to his English accent!) The only other white actor is James Remar, who plays Windwalker as a young man. All the other roles are played by Native Americans. Howard is not awful, but you can't help but wonder why they didn't use one of the excellent older Native American actors.

The movie does pay careful attention to details of culture, language, costuming, and age-old traditions. The scenery, which is in Utah, is gloriously beautiful. Windwalker has the distinction of being named the #1 anthropological film of all time in an early 1990s poll of the American Anthropological Association.

DIRECTOR: Kieth Merrill. CAST: Trevor Howard, Nick Ramus, Serene Hedin, Dusty Iron Wing McCrea.

AWARDS: 1 win.

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1981) [PG]

This is a very funny movie. Three stories intertwine, along with culture clashes and jungle animals. This is a romance, adventure, anthropological study, travelogue, and comedy all rolled into one!

The movie starts out slowly, seeming to be a documentary. Don't be put off, just keep watching. I promise you will enjoy this!

A young woman in South Africa, tired of the big city rat race, arrives at a remote village to teach. She encounters a shy bumbler of a young scientist who is studying the local animals and tries his best to make her feel welcome.

At the same time, a Bushman has decided that the Coca-Cola bottle that fell from the sky is not really a blessing. He is going to go to the edge of the earth to return it to the gods, who must be crazy, since they sent only one bottle, and for the first time there is jealousy and dissension in the tribe. He encounters modern civilization for the first time.

There is also a band of guerilla fighters who are pursued by the military, adding some real suspense and danger to the movie. Along with some very brief nudity and adult language, it is this part that earned the movie its PG rating.

A big hit when first released, it played in the theaters for almost three years, and was for a long time the highest grossing foreign film ever released in the US. Some of the production values are primitive and there are some jerky editing moments, but somehow those just add to the fun.

There were many conflicting and maybe fictional stories about the lead actor who is a real Bushman. My favorite is the story that when N!xau was paid in money, he just let it fly away since he didn't understand what money was good for. The producers felt bad and asked him what he might want instead. He answered, "I've heard that a cow is a good animal." It was easy enough for the producers to give him four cows. A few weeks later, someone asked him how the cows were. He grinned and said, "Very easy hunting!"

If you enjoy slapstick, jungle animals, silly romances, and learning about other cultures, this is the movie for you!

DIRECTOR: Jamie Uys.  CAST: Marius Weyers, Sandra Prinsloo, N!xau, Louw Verwey, Michael Thys.

AWARDS: 2 wins and 1 nomination.

Tom Jones (1963) [unrated; my rating: PG-17]

One of the most critically acclaimed movies of its time, this movie is a romp.  An English costume comedy, this movie tells a lusty story of a young man of less than savory beginnings who is forced out to find his place in the world. The movie is full of the usual misadventures and coincidences, but this is not your usual Masterpiece Theater. This is a bawdy movie, even by today's standards!

Albert Finney has a ball as Tom Jones in the role that made his career. Susannah York (who passed away earlier this week) is simply gorgeous as Tom's innocent, true love, Sophie(She turned the part down three times before she finally signed on.). Both Lynn Redgrave and David Warner made their film debuts. Everyone goes at it full blast and great fun is had by all.

This movie also had some unusual film techniques for its time. It starts out as a silent movie! At times the characters break the fourth wall and speak to the audience. There is even a time when Tom notices the camera and covers the lens to hide the proceedings.

Tom Jones also boasts the most lusty meal ever eaten on screen! As Tom and Mrs. Waters eat their meal, they stare deeply into each others eyes. They tear at their food, enjoying every single mouthful, doing to the food what we know they will soon be doing to each other.

Don't be put off by the fact that the movie is almost 50 years old. There is nothing old-fashioned here except for the time period depicted. Watch it with your partner and see if you can resist each other after the food scene!

DIRECTOR: Tony Richardson.  CAST: Albert Finney, Susannah York, Hugh Griffith, Edith Evans, Joyce Redman, Diane Cilento, Joan Greenwood, David Tomlinson, Peter Bull, David Warner.

Won 4 Oscars. Another 17 wins and 17 nominations.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) [R]

Original, confusing, amazing, romantic, sad, funny movie about love and memory. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as Joel and Clementine, play against type and deliver wonderful performances. Written by Charlie Kaufman, you know it's going to be a crazy ride.

After a bad breakup, Clementine decides to undergo a process where all her memories of Joel will be erased. When Joel finds out, he decides to do the same. Most of the movie takes place inside Joel's mind as he goes through the procedure. The result is dreamy, in reverse time sequence, and full of surprises.

It also turns out that the employees of the company which performs the memory erasure are all pretty self-serving and affect what happens to Clementine and Joel.

The movie is out of time sequence, so keep track by the color of Clementine's hair which at various times is blue, orange, red, or green. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind takes a look at the love relationship. Is it inevitable that relationships go through ups and downs? When do we stay and when do we give up? Are we fated to find each other? Are we our memories and who are we without them?

Watch with someone you love...

DIRECTOR: Michel Gondry.  CAST: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Jane Adams, David Cross, Deirdre O'Connell.

AWARDS: Won Oscar. Another 38 wins and 50 nominations.

Jump Tomorrow (2001) [PG]

A sweet little indie movie, Jump Tomorrow has a European sensibility to it. Although it takes place in upstate New York, most of the characters are from other countries.

Shy George (Tunde Adebimpe), a Nigerian, is about to take part in an arranged marriage. On his way to his wedding, he comes across Gerard (Hippolyte Girardot), a Frenchman, who is about to jump off the roof to kill himself because he has been turned down on his marriage proposal. George suggests he jump tomorrow, which becomes the theme of the movie.

George also meets Alicia (Natalia Verbeke), a Spanish woman. For him, it is love at first sight. He can't stop thinking about her and imagines her and himself in funny, overdramatic romantic scenes from novellas. Ever the romantic, Gerard convinces George to follow Alicia, although she is traveling with her boyfriend. Will George win Alicia's heart?

This is an enjoyable movie. You will find yourself smiling as you watch, and still smiling hours after it is over. It is fun to watch the various cultures as both Alicia and George are traveling to their families and communities. This is a comedy, light and frothy, very different from the usual romantic comedies put out by Hollywood.

DIRECTOR: Joel Hopkins.  CAST: Tunde Adebimpe, Natalia Verbeke, Hippolyte Girardot, James Wilby, Patricia Maureci, Isiah Whitlock, Jr.

AWARDS: 3 wins and 6 nominations.

Frailty (2002) [R]

This is a great, creepy movie, with a huge twist at the end. Bill Paxton, directing for the first time, plays Dad, a widower with two young sons. One day he tells them that he has received a vision from God. He has been tasked to destroy demons. Is he insane? His "tools" come to him in a way with mystical overtones.

It seems that Dad can tell if someone is a demon by shaking hands. Once he finds one, he believes he must fulfill his mission. He drags his sons with him on these missions, where they witness terrifying deeds. Remarkably, he is never caught.

The movie starts with one of the brothers, now grown up, going to the FBI to report that he believes his brother is the serial killer who is called God's Hand. He tells his story in flashbacks and when he is finished, the story gets even more exciting.

I am not really a fan of horror movies. I cover my eyes when there is blood, and I never appreciate that trick they do with someone jumping out unexpectedly. This is movie is not really part of that genre. It tells a gruesome story, but throws enough doubt that you are not sure if Dad is insane or really doing God's work.

I love twists and turns in my movies. I like when movies try to trick us and then surprise us with what is really going on. This movie does that excellently. Paxton did a great job with his first stint as a director!

DIRECTOR: Bill Paxton.  CAST: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O'Leary, Luke Askew, Jeremy Sumpter, Derk Cheetwood, Melissa Crider.

AWARDS: 3 wins and 8 nominations.